YOU KNOW WHAT I DID THIS SUMMER?

While a lot of you have probably enjoyed getting sunburned while going to the beach or travelling, I have managed to keep my skin clear by aestivating (hibernating of animals during summer) in my nook. Whether I have wasted my summer or not, you be the judge.

Here’s what I have accomplished for my two- month vacation so far!

•   Created blogs that I am not even sure if they are being read. And uhm, as blogging is  a dying industry, I’m not also sure if this activity shall pay me the time I have spent in painstakingly writing some stuffs which I honestly don’t know if they are readable.

• Made some affiliations with MOMMY AFFILIATES, LAZADA AFFILIATES, COMMISSION JUNCTION, AMAZON AFFILIATES, Nuffnang, etc. with the promise of paid advertising. But until now, I see no proof of any progress from their posted banners.

• Clicked some ads from CLIXSENSE and boy I’m telling you my $1.243 is really hard earned.

• Answered some surveys with the promise of redeemable points. I have earned 50 points at AIP. But 1000 points for 250 php???

•  Played Zombie Tsunami and Flappy Bird on  my phone.

• Memorized Monica’s lines in The Legal Wife. “Walang sa’yo Nichole. Akin lang si Adrian. Akin lang ang asawa ko.”

• Watched the Grand Finals of “I am Pogay”  and enjoyed Vice Ganda’s banters on everybody else at It’s Showtime. 

• And of course, mastered the art of changing diapers, singing lullabies and rocking a baby to sleep. This I think, were my worthwhile activities because I got to bond with my baby. 

ALOE VERA AND ITS THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS

I'm happy to hear that Mom  has been doing well these days. Last month, she was hospitalized for hypothyroidism and over fatigue. But now she's back in good shape. Her secret? ALOE VERA TEA... And so, I am inspired to write about this wondrous plant and do a research on its healing effects. And to tell you the truth, I am really awed at its healing powers.

Aloe vera is a stemless or very short- stemmed plant belonging to the lily species like onions. Its leaves are thick and fleshy and often extracted for both internal and external applications. Aloe vera derived its name from the Arabic word "alloeh" which means bitter, as the aloe leaves contain a bitter liquid.

Aloe vera has long been used as a medicinal plant since the ancient civilization. And up to the present times, this plant continues to have its healing wonders. Not to mention the fact that it is widely used in the beauty industry.

But how does ALOE VERA really help our bodies?

1. Aloe Helps with Digestion

Poor digestion is related to many diseases. A properly functioning digestive tract is one of the keys and foundations of health. Aloe is known to soothe and cleanse the digestive tract and help improve digestion. The interesting thing about taking aloe internally is that, because it is an adaptogen, it helps with either constipation or diarrhea, helping to regulate your elimination cycles in whatever way you need.  It’s been a great remedy for people with problems such as irritable bowel syndrome as well as acid reflux. Aloe also helps to decrease the amount of unfriendly bacteria and in our gut keeping your healthy intestinal flora in balance. Aloe is also a vermifuge, which means it helps to rid the body of intestinal worms.

2. Aloe Vera is High in Amino Acids & Fatty Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There are about 22 amino acids that are necessary for the human body and it is said that 8 of these are essential. Estimates of the amino acids found in aloe range from 18-20 amino acids, with all 8 essential amino acids.

Alove Vera also includes quite an impressive range of fatty acids. Aloe contains three plant sterols, which are important fatty acids- HCL cholesterol (which lowers fats in the blood), campesterol, and B-sitosterol. All are helpful in reducing symptoms of allergies and acid indigestion. Other fatty acids include linoleic, linolenic, myristic, caprylic, oleic, palmitic, and  stearic.

3.  It is High in Vitamins & Minerals:

Aloe Vera contains many vitamins including A, C, E, folic acid, choline, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B6. Aloe Vera is also one of the few plants that contains vitamin B12. Some of the 20 minerals found in Aloe Vera include: calcium, magnesium, zinc, chromium, selenium, sodium, iron, potassium, copper, manganese.

4. Aloe Helps in Detoxification

Aloe Vera is a gelatinous plant food, just like seaweeds and chia. The main benefit to consuming gelatinous plant foods in your diet is that these gels move through the intestinal tract absorbing toxins along the way and get eliminated through the colon. This will help the proper elimination of waste from your body and help the detoxification of your body.

5. Cardiovascular Health

There hasn’t been a lot of studies conducted in this but there has been some research to show that Aloe Vera extract injected into the blood, greatly multiplies the oxygen transportation and diffusion capabilities of the red blood cells.

6. Aloe Helps Boost the Immune System

Aloe is also an immune enhancer because of its high level of anti-oxidants, which help combat the unstable compounds known as free-radicals, contributing to the aging process. (Free radicals are a bi-product of life itself, it is a naturally occurring process but we can overload ourselves with unnecessary free-radicals by living an unhealthy lifestyle) Aloe is also an antipyretic which means it used to reduce or prevent fever.

7. Aloe Vera is Great for the Skin

Because of aloe’s well-known healing properties for the skin, aloe is one of the primary compounds used in the cosmetic industry. It is a known vulnerary, (meaning it helps heal wounds) and is great for applying topically to burns, abrasions, psoriasis and even to bug bites. Aloe acts as an analgesic, acting to help relieve pain of wounds. It’s feels especially good to cut a stem of aloe, place it in the fridge and rub it on sun burnt skin – the immediate soothing effect feels like an absolute lifesaver. Aloe is also an antipruritic: A substance that relieves or prevents itching. Aloe Vera is an astringent: which causes the contraction of body tissues, typically used to reduce bleeding from minor abrasions.

Aloe increases the elasticity of the skin making it more flexible through collagen and elastin repair. Aloe is an emollient, helping to soften and soothe the skin. It helps supply oxygen to the skin cells, increasing the strength and synthesis of skin tissue and induces improved blood flow to the skin through capillary dilation.

8. Aloe helps reduce Inflammation

Aloe Vera contains 12 substances, including B-sisterole, which can help to slow down or inhibit inflammation.  This may be able to help with painful joints due to stiffness and help improve joint flexibility.

9. Weight Loss – A Secondary effect

Improving your digestion, and detoxifying your will have a secondary effect in promoting weight loss because when we start to improve our digestion we naturally eliminate more efficiently, which is a primary way they we detoxify – through our bowels. This will lighten our toxic load on the body and will give us more energy.

No wonder Mom is so excited about this plant. It really is a WONDER PLANT.

THE NAPOLES SAGA

The Saga begins......

A. From Janet Lim- Janet Lim is the only daughter among the five children of a Filipino- Chinese couple in Binondo, Manila. Napoles would later claim that her family were rich,and that she was able to inherit some money which she used as seed-money for her businesses. But this was to be denied by her relatives in Basilan.

B. To Janet Napoles- She married Jaime Napoles, a major in the Philippine Marine Corps.

C. To Na-poised, dignified, well- dressed, businesswoman- Mostly from soliciting for investments which were after all, scams. This brilliant but crooked woman is mastering her trade of deception. She has probably learned the tricks from the military, where she associated with officials.

D. Then came the talk of the nation, the Napo-Scam... The dignified Napoles became the Pork- barrel queen.

 

The Napo-mansion

This mansion is just one among the properties amassed by Napoles, most likely milked from the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund.

E.  to Napulis- Exposed by her cousin Benhur Luy, the Pork- barrel queen now faces charges.

Mug shot of Napoles

Bullet proofed- vest???Really??

Invited to Senate to answer all allegations but even the dreaded Sen. Miriam Santiago could not get anything from her.

F. To Napohospital- Due to an ovarian tumor, called adenomyosis, she managed to obtain permission to be hospitalized. Now, the tumor is gone along with her uterus and ovaries. Her drama moves on!

 

G. The Napolist- This is clearly a mind- game, with Napoles still being  the crooked MASTERMIND.  A lot of public officials implicated and each of the senators named in the list is trying to defend himself. Every Juan and Juana now wonders--- who's in or out and who's telling the truth.

 H. Nafoolish!!! Napoles asks to be a state witness? Now, who's the fool, the "fooler" and the "foolest" of them all?

TO BE CONTINUED....

FRUITS FOR SKIN THAT GLOWS

WHO WOULD NOT WANT A HEALTHY GLOWING SKIN? 

With all beauty products out in the market, the natural ways are still the best. Aside from being affordable, they are accessible. Plus a guaranty of no side- effects. And c’mon let’s face the fact, not everybody has the luxury and time to always go to face spas.

Here's a list of fruits I have personally tried and proven to be effective.

1. Strawberries- 

Yes, these luscious berries are actually good for your skin.

Strawberries have anti-aging vitamins, specifically Vitamin C. They have more Vitamin C compared to grapefruits and oranges.Vitamin C fights free radicals, which damage cells and break down collagen, leading to fine lines. For smoother, better-hydrated skin, apply a natural berry mask once or twice a week, and eat vitamin C–rich foods daily.

2. Papaya- 

Papaya is rich in Vitamin C and E and enzymes that gently exfoliates and smoothens skin. Papaya is a first class natural ingredient for facial masks. Make your own and you'll save up some money.

Mashed papaya and applied on face as mask helps to dissolve and lift away dry scaly skin, which, over time, can build up on your skin and leave a dull appearance.

3. Mangoes-

They are great for your skin as they have the ability to reduce dark spots, blemishes and acne, thus imparting a natural glow to your skin. Vitamin A and Beta carotene in this fruit restore, rejuvenate and revive your skin with vigor as well as add shine to your skin. And this might appear a bit surprising but mangoes can be used to remove blackheads. For this purpose, prepare a scrub by mixing a teaspoon of mango pulp, half a teaspoon of milk or milk powder and honey. Rub it all over your face in circular motion. This will help in removing dead skin and blackheads, thus adding a glow to your face.

4. Banana-

Bananas, which are abundant in the Philippines, are good moisturizers leaving your skin feeling smooth and soft. 

Banana fruit has nutrients that are essential for the skin. They contain significant amounts of vitamin C and B6 which plays vital role in maintaining the integrity and elasticity of the skin. 

In addition, the large amount of antioxidants and manganese present in banana protect the body from damage caused by oxygen free radicals which lead to premature aging of the skin. Banana helps hydrate your skin and prevents it from drying and peeling. Not only does Vitamin C helps clear skin, it is also anti- inflammatory and helps speed up the healing of wounds and blemishes. The potassium content of bananas also helps retard acne bacteria while exfoliating dead skins.

5. Pineapple-

Pineapples are not only delicious tropical fruit. They can also be good exfoliant for the skin. They contain bromelain, a fruit enzyme that both exfoliates and has anti0 inflamatory functions. Pineapples also contain Vitamin C. The vitamin C in pineapple juice is a very effective acne treatment. You can get rid of acne and acne marks by using this as a toner or applying and letting it dry and then washing it with cold water. Vitamin C is an anti- oxidant that reduces lines and wrinkles, too. Thus, pineapple for skin is one of the perfect remedies to make skin clear.

There you have it! Enjoy making your face masks using any of these fruits!!!You may also nibble on them while having your relaxing face massage. 

KISS CRACKED HEELS GOODBYE

Afraid to wear open shoes or sandals because of cracked heels?

Worry no more! And kiss your cracked heels goodbye!

Cracked heels are due to dry skin and accumulated dirt. There are other reasons such as psoriasis, exzema, athlete's foot etc.  The fissures in your heels become longer and rougher over time. And as the skin thickens, it cracks. So while it is still early and you are still young start caring for your heels. Going for foot spa may be costly so here’s a little trick I would want to share with you.

Make a homemade foot scrub!

Homemade scrubs are practical and easy to prepare. Plus you will be assured that your foot scrub is free from harsh chemicals and preservatives.

What You need

-         Bowl

-         spoon to mix

-         container to store the foot scrubs

Ingredients used

·         1 cup white sugar

·         2 tsp baking soda

·         2 tsp olive oil

·         2 tsp honey

·         Essential oil- A few drops

Procedure:

·         Add white sugar in a bowl. Sugar is used as the base for this scrub. It is an exfoliant,

·         Next add olive oil and mix well with a spoon. Olive oil is an excellent moisturiser. It does leave any trace of oiliness.

·         Then add baking soda and mix again. Baking soda is a natural exfoliant and cleanses the skin. It maintains the Ph balance of the skin to ensure moisture.

·         Add in the honey. Honey is anti-ageing and nourishes dry parched skin.

Your foot scrub is ready! Store it in a container in a cool dry place. The mix should last you for 2 weeks

How to use

·         Use this scrub before or while taking a shower

·         Massage in circular motion and concentrate on the rough spots.

·         Once you rinse your feet, your feet will remain moisturized because of the oil .

·         This scrub can be used on hands as well.

Constant application can make a BIG DIFFERENCE!

LOVE: THE GREATEST BEHAVIOR- MODIFIER

Love, they say, changes a man. It is, as Leo Buscaglia puts it, the greatest modifier of human behaviour. And I could not agree more. For truly, love is an emotion that drives one to do a lot of things.

Love, biblically, is what made Jesus die on the cross. It is for His love for the human race that he opted to become a man and be hanged. Such wonderful act teaches us that pure love is self-sacrificing. This kind of love is called agape, the highest form of love. We can see this in every mother who is willing to give up a career for her children. In every soldier willing to die for his country. In every servant willing to wait on his master. With agape, the common denominator is SACRIFICE. Genuine love transforms us into unselfish beings because we love unconditionally.

Our behaviour is modified when we love. It transforms us. It makes us abandon old habits and become a new person. We stop thinking of our own welfare and start thinking of others. We become unselfish. We put the needs of others before our own.

Eros, another kind of love is the love manifested in sexual ways. Similarly, our behaviour is changed when we love someone. When in moderation, it brings out the best in an individual. But when uncontrolled, it leads to chaos and destruction. Love is the reason why a teenage boy beams with joy when he sees the object of his affection. It is the same reason why a man wakes up with a glimmer of hope and goes to work to catch a glimpse of his beloved. It is the same reason why a man loses reason and hangs himself or kills another. For every result, it is always between good and bad. Whether it be good or bad, reason shall be the governing factor.

The two other kinds of love storge or affection and philia or brotherly love would likewise transform one's behavior. Because of love, we are changed from good to better or bad to worst- proof that indeed love modifies our behavior. 

May our love change us into better persons.

May we choose to be transformed into useful beings 

rather than rotten ones. 

On Mother's Day

WHO IS A MOTHER?

A Mother is someone who gets up early to make your lunch for school and sneaks in a written note to say she loves you.

A Mother is someone with patience. She understands that your terrible twos and troublesome teenage years will pass. And when they do, she misses them.

A Mother is someone who is awake at night worrying when you are going through a tough time. Whether you are a toddler with a bad cold, a 16 year old girl with a broken heart, or a 25 year old woman struggling with a career decision. She’s used to not getting much sleep.

A mother is a friend, a comforter, an adviser, a teacher, a supporter, a guide, a helper.

A mother is God's greatest creation.

A mother is everything.

A mother's touch is the first human touch in a child's life. A mother's heart is filled with a never-exhausting love for her children. She lives and dies for them. A mother is the most beautiful woman in the child's eyes. It is a mother's love, pure and unadulterated, which nourishes a child and helps him to see and understand the cruel and the harsh world where he is destined to spend the rest of his life. Only a mother knows how it feels to be a mother. Mothers shoulder a huge responsibility of instilling the good and the bad in her child's heart. Being a mother is tough. A mother's every action and word is under the deepest scrutiny and therefore, she is always over cautious of her conduct.

TO MY MOTHER AND EVERY

MOTHER OUT THERE!

C_H-A_N-G_E

What do men dread beside a bad haircut?



It’s

For many of us, change is something we shirk away from because of the uncertainty that it carries with it. Change maybe the harbinger of hope. But it can also bring despair. With change, there is no security. With change, we face the unknown. With change, one faces a crucial decision—to hold on or let go of the comforts we are used to.

 

Change may come in different forms. For some, it maybe a different path to tread on. It maybe a new beginning. A new baby. Loss of a loved one. A different career. A business venture. Growing of a moustache. Removing a moustache. New learning. Unlearning. Greying hair. Dyed hair.

 

For me, there are just too many. I have gained weight since my pregnancy and delivery of my baby. I have stretch marks. I have freckles. I have hair- loss. They say, these are all brought by my pregnancy and delivery. Before, I was never vain. I used to be happy with my looks. But now, the bodily changes are just so appalling. I see a different person when I look at the mirror. I say to myself, “Oh, no. This can’t be.” But yes, it is. Changes are happening. The mirror does not lie. My figure does not. My body cannot. These physical changes are not welcome at all. They are dreadful. But they are inevitable.

 

We cannot go through life without having to pass series of changes. There are beautiful changes. There are also ugly ones. Bad or good, beautiful or ugly, change moulds us.

 

So, what do I do then? How do I deal with change?

 

I found out that the best thing to do is not to resist it. Accept it gracefully and gratefully. I cannot do anything with the permanent changes in my body. The scars, the stretch marks, the freckles...They will stay no matter what I do. But I am happy with them because they remind me of the beautiful gift I have received from God, my baby.

 

Acceptance with grace and gratitude. Be happy with the changes. Thank God for them for changes are opportunities to make ourselves better and become wiser.

 

Devil's Playground

“An idle mind is the Devil’s playground.”

 

This saying keeps me bothered while I lay idle this summer. With a long vacation, I've got nothing to do but to let my mind wonder. And of course, there are some unpleasant stuffs which I let my mind to drift upon.

 

The mind is powerful. It is the nest of ideas, whether good or bad. It is the haven for knowledge and wisdom. It may house positive feelings yet it may also harbor ill thoughts.

 

The human mind is unlimited in it's potential to create the results of what one may  desire. There are no limits as to its bounds, with the exception of course, of the limits you place on one's own self. When fully and properly used, the mind can yield positive outcomes.

 

But then it can also give way to chaos and destruction. This is the part where an idle mind comes in.

 

An idle mind is an undisciplined mind. It is a wondering mind. It can be likened to a horse without a harness. An idle mind which is not tethered can aimlessly roam the dark alleys of stupidity then plummet into the pitfalls of the big word S-I-N.

An idle mind may relieve and lay waste in the past, thereby missing the chance to bask in the glory of a brighter future. An idle mind may also pre-empt the future as it may get over- zealous with what is yet to happen. An idle mind may opt to entertain lustful desires or indulge itself with shallowness. An idle mind is stagnant for it abhors progress. An idle mind is dull as it is unpolished. You see, an idle mind gives you nothing and leads you nowhere.

LESSON??? Be busy but not a busybody!!! Don’t be idle ‘less you want the devil to be wagging its tail as it creeps into your idle mind.

 

 

Granny's Legacy

Silver gray hair

Lola Umalliw in deep thoughts

Neatly combed in place
There were four generations
Of love on her face
She was so wise
No surprise passed her eyes
She's seen it all

I was a child, oh
About three or four
All day I'd ask questions
At night I'd ask more
But whenever, she never
Would ever turn me away
No, no oh woah
I'd say how can I be sure
What is right or wrong
And why does
What I want
Always take so long
Please tell me
Where does God live
And why won't
He talk to me
I'd say Grandma
What is love
Will I ever find out
Why are we so poor
What is life about
I wanna know the answers
Before I fall off to sleep
Woah ho woah ho

She saw the smile
As she tucked me in
Then she pulled up that
Old rockin' chair once again
But tonight she was
Slightly, remarkably
Different somehow
Slowly she rocked
Lookin' half asleep
Grandma yawned
As she stretched
Then she started to speak
What she told me
Would mould me and holds me
Together inside
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

She said all the things you ask
You will know someday
But you have got to live
In a patient way
God put us here by fate
And by fate that means
Better days

She said, child we are all
Moons in the dark of night
Ain't no mornings gonna come
Till the time is right
Can't get no better days lest
You make it through the night
You gotta make it
Through the night
Yes you do
You can't get to no
Better days
Unless you make it
Through the night (baby)
Oh ho, you will see
Those better days
But you gotta be patient
Be patient, oh baby
Be patient

Later that year at 

Lola Malliw always asks "Nangan kan?"

The turn of spring
Heaven sent angels down
And gave Grandma her wings
Now, she's flyin'
And slidin', and glidin'
In better days
And although
I'm all grown up
I still get confused
I stumble through the dark
Getting bumped and bruised
When night gets in my way
I could still hear
My Grandma say
I can hear her say
I can hear her sayin'

You can't get to no
Better days
Unless you make it
Through the night (baby)
Oh ho, you will see
Those better days
But you gotta be patient
Child, do you hear me, yeah
Well, well, well, well
You can't get to no, no
Better days
Unless you make it
You got to make it
You got to make it
Through the night
Oh Grandma, oh Grandma
Do you see me now, lady
Oh oh oh oh oh
Tender replies

 



 

I always find myself humming this song of Dianne Reeves whenever I think of Lola Umalliw. 

Better Days is just the song for her.

 

Lola Umalliw did not have a formal education. At times, her ignorance is just so appalling. You would grow weary of her unending questions. She just seems to meddle at everything you  do.  Sometimes, my nephews and nieces find her a nuisance. They mimic her. They laugh at her. They make her mad. She makes them mad.

Life has been tough on her but life has taught her much. She has grown old with wisdom and is never selfish to share it.
 

 



In her youth, she was a beauty to behold! With Lolo Manolo

Life has been tough on her but she fights back. She has raised her ten children well. And her

50 grandchildren have much to say about her pure heart.

Her 37 great-grandchildren are just so lucky to still have her.

 

 

 Lola Umalliw, no greater words would define your being. You would always be my loving LOLA...

 

 

I always honor my Mom with words of love and praise

I always tell about her goodness

and her kind and loving ways..

Yet I should also think of you Grandma

For you mothered my dear Mom

As Mom mothers me

So shall I mother my own child....